Musical Cheers: Bishops Finger

Glenn Criddle

In the spirit of beer being the beverage of the everyday man (and woman), we present Musical Cheers, a column that puts real beer in the hands of real people. Musical Cheers is guest authored by a revolving selection of friends and columnists with tastes as varied as the beers they review.

BIO

Currently reading: “Attack of the Flickering Skeletons" by Stuart Ashens

Favorite film: “Holy Motors" (at the moment)

Least favorite film: “Cold Fish" (UK 2001, David Fairman)

Preferred Blue Collar Brews: Bank's Original Mild

Preferred White Collar Brews: Master Brew Kentish Ale

THE REVIEW

Name of beer reviewing: Shepherd Neame's Bishops Finger

Type of beer (lager, ale, IPA, stout, etc): Ale

ABV: 5.4 percent

Pre-tasting:

It's a ruby ale with a promise of being a bit robust and quirky enough to stand out from the crowd.

Post-tasting:

An intensely hoppy flavor with a bitter toffee finish that can be a little overwhelming to begin with. The flavor goes through a short stage of being clean and crisp on the sip, to a very full body with background sweetness that gives way gradually to leave the kind of bitterness a strong coffee has. It isn't a session beer as it's a little too heavy going in both the flavor and ABV. One to be enjoyed on occasions where the unusual is your thing.

You'll like this beer if:

You're after a comforting, broad flavored beer for those cooler or cold evenings. Like Guinness, it's got weight to its flavor that suits those nights when you want a slower, more substantial pint.

You'll dislike this beer if:

You don't find a more robust beer palatable. The flavor is the kind that hangs around for a minute or so and so isn't the most refreshing or easy going. One for the more seasoned beer fan and a bit heavy for the summer.